Band nippers are used to adjust the leather tightly around the spine bands when covering the binding. An essential tool for every bookbinder.

Introducing Brass Band nippers IIThe Brass Band Nippers offered by Dimitri’s Bookbinding corner have found home in binderies located in over a dozen different countries around the world and have received much praise for their design and functionality by professional binders and bookbinding enthusiasts alike.

Not stopping there and in my effort to provide the bookbinding community with useful and long lasting tools I have redesigned the brass band nippers and their manufacturing methods using feedback, personal experience and the aspects that made them popular to offer you an improved version.

IMPROVEMENTS:– Precision madeThe tool remains entirely handmade. However, introducing precision machinery in various stages of the tool’s making has resulted in more even and smooth surfaces and -most importantly- better function.

– More robustThe tool now has an additional 20% of mass compared to its predecessor making it even more resistant to wear and continuous use. Made to last, it will accompany you for a life-time.

– Bigger and wider jawsThe jaws have been enlarged and also feature a wider span to make sure that you can have good results with bands of various thicknesses.

WHAT HASN’T CHANGED:– HandmadeEach Brass Band Nipper is made entirely by hand and finished to produce smooth jaw edges suitable for fine bookbinding work.

– Solid BrassAs with the previous version the tool is made from solid brass, a timeless metal used in many bookbinding tools. Brass doesn’t rust and won’t stain your book spine.

– Practical designA simple and efficient spring at the top facilitates use by spring-back action.

NOTE – 50% discount for orders made by bookbinding guilds, academies or institutions. The discount applies for one tool ordered for use by the guild, academy (etc) itself. Please contact me directly if you are interested.

You love tools… I know you do. Yes, You the craftsman who is reading this post, it doesn’t matter if you’re a bookbinder or not. I know you spend hours browsing fancy tools on pinterest, taking sneak peaks at other peoples’ equipment at their FB page and occasionally drool over vintage pieces. You love their colors, their texture, so much potential… You even betray your loving craft on occasion and stare at tools belonging to other crafts… But I’m not the one to blame you, no, no. In fact I’m exactly like you…

The idea for a special limited edition of tools with hardwood handles has been in the works for some time now. In modern times we constantly strive to create everything from a practical point of view, function over form. But function alone does not suffice, life is not just function. It seems as if we have forgotten how to imbue the objects surrounding us with beauty. I quote what is written at a wonderful tool museum (do visit it if you find yourself) in Athens;

“Because they want the tools they make,to be beautiful besides useful. They want them to say who made them and who used them”

Being a craftsman means spending a lifetime among tools. Their purpose is to aid the artisan in his work, but who said there’s only one way to do so… Our tools, our companions in the crafting journey, should be unique, not only as a result of the connection we create with them but also because they have their own personality. As said by the anonymous writer “they want them to say who made them and who used them”. Isn’t that for a tool as close to being alive as it can get?

The tools presented are a limited edition, meaning there’s only one of each kind with the exception of the Padauk stylus sets. The handles have been crafted skillfully by Antonis the woodworker using the much appraised designs me and him came up with. A high polish has been performed without the addition of luster or polishes.

Versatile Typeholder with Black Palmwood handle.Antonis the woodturner actually said about working for this piece and I quote “it felt as if turning iron!”. Later on he also commented “whoever buys this will actually be creating a heirloom”. And I’d like to think so; brass is a timeless material that ages well and resists corrosion superbly and Palmwood is noted for its endurance and beauty. The combination of the two has given a tool that will last you a lifetime, and a couple more for sure!

Bookbinding Finishing Multitool (BFM) with Padauk handle.Padauk is a hardwood originating from central and tropical west Africa but can also be found in Myanmar and Thailand. The wood database mentions that it “has excellent decay resistance and is rated durable to very durable”. Its vivid red color (Padauk is sometimes called Vermillion because of it) gradually turns to a deeper reddish-brown tone as years pass by, though small exposure to sunlight can prolong the process. I find the aged version even more attractive if you ask me!The Bookbinding Finishing Multitool’s basic set is an ideal starting kit for those interested to venture in classic decoration techniques. It includes 15 interchangeable decorative heads that enable the binder through combined use to perform a multitude of designs, from simple to elaborate. Read the original entry on the BFM to learn more about its features.
Versatile Typeholder with Amboyna Burr handle.Amboyna is not actually a distinct species but rather how the burl formation of specific trees is called. A burr (or burl) is formed when a tree undergoes some kind of stress such as injury, a virus or a fungus, leading to the irregular development of its grain. That “irregularity” creates intricate patterns or color variations within burls and Amboyna is the most expensive and sought after kind. Apart from its charming appearance the Amboyna is very durable and shows excellent decay resistance.

Bookbinding stylus with elaborate Cocobolo handle.Coming from central America Cocobolo is renown for its hardness and beautiful color, most commonly streaks of dark brown (or black) and red. Used in a variety of objects, from pool cues to pens, from inlay work to full musical instruments, Cocobolo is an expensive and prized hardwood. Due to is natural oils it shows outstanding resistance to degrade caused by humid/dry cycles and is rated as extremely durable.

I combined the straight Stylus with the elaborate (and also revised) handle design for this unique piece. The Stylus tool gives you the ability to decorate your bound books “freehand”, your imagination (and maybe your gas tank’s capacity!) is the only limit. Keep in mind that you can always alter/modify the Stylus’ end to the sharpness of your liking. Read the original entry on my Stylus set to see the advantages such a tool offers.

Stylus set with Padauk handles.I’ve managed to provide you with 2 Stylus sets in handles made from this beautiful hardwood. A great addition to any bindery, this Stylus set considerably expands your tooling options while also making an aesthetical statement. Make those colleagues jealous!

GIVEAWAY! Bookbinding stylus with Wenge handle.You can have this one for free! Yup, you heard me! All you have to do is head over to the blog’s Facebook page, SHARE and like the corresponding post and answer a question. The winner will be chosen at random on Sunday the 15th of February. Good luck everyone!

Here’s two things that are long overdue;First, I’ve opened an etsy shop called The Bookbinder’s Bench, where you will find handmade bindings and tools. Spread the word!
One of the perks of buying tools from my Etsy shop is that I’ll be listing tools that are in stock and thus require a few to even zero days before they are shipped!

Second, Dimitri’s bookbinding corner has now a Facebook page! Stop by, like, share, follow and stay updated with both the blog and what becomes available at the etsy shop!

About a week ago I presented my tools to ARA Greece (association of Greek bookbinders). It was a pleasant evening and I would like to thank the members for their warm welcoming and especially Thaleia Michelaki for arranging the whole thing as well as Evangelia Tsitoura for the photos.

Hi everyone and best wishes for 2013!New year – new tool! I’d like to introduce you the Polishing brass tool.

Polishing tools, either of this type or the cylindrical ones, have been of a long service in the binderies. They are used in crushing the grain of leather if a smooth surface is desired, polishing, surface gilding, creating patinas and more.

This tool has been traditionally made from cast iron for a number of reasons, a couple of which are easier manufacturing and lower cost. However iron/steel has been often noted to stain leather.Creating a cast brass tool of this volume has been a huge undertaking as it requires the precision methods used in a small ring while it has the mass of a hundred.

The tool offered to you here draws its form from the elements found in various classic depictions. While many modern versions simply have a slightly curved surface this Polishing brass features both a flat surface and a curved end. Another special characteristic is the also curved shaft which greatly facilitates use.

The Polishing brass tool offers two options regarding its handle;1)The standard long (45cm) handle and2) the maker’s recommendation- the short handle, which I’ve found quite comfortable to work with.Both handles are made from quality handturned wood that is treated and polished.The price of the Polishing brass tool is 200euro.

How do I order?α) Just sent me a mail in the address at the top of the right column of my blog or leave a comment here letting me know which tools you are interested in. Payment can be received through Paypal.b) Or head over to myEtsy shopand see what tools are in stock. Buying the tools from etsy is just slightly more expensive than purchasing them from here but gives you minimum preparation time and thus much faster dispatchment.Note – Etsy tool listings show tools that are “ready or almost ready” for dispachment, not availability. If the tool you’re interested in isn’t currently listed on Etsy you can still order it here!

There are many times during finishing where a typeholder for single type pieces comes much handier than the standard sized ones used for whole words. For example when a single letter hasn’t been tooled as clearly as the rest and needs to be retooled, in certain decorations where the occasion calls for tooling letters individually and especially when the title is arranged vertically on the spine.

In such cases this kind of typeholder allows greater control -being lighter and smaller- and better visibility. The typeholder offered here is made out of solid cast brass. The upper sides, the ones a binder sees while tooling, form a rounded corner which by the end of the tool declines as much as possible to further enhance line of sight. The moving part incorporated in the design enables this typeholder to receive a wide range of type sizes from really small (f.e. 6) to big ones (f.e. 36) and holds the type down firmly with a twist of the screw.

The price of the typeholder is 130euroHow do I order?α) Just sent me a mail in the address at the top of the right column of my blog or leave a comment here letting me know which tools you are interested in. Payment can be received through Paypal.
b) Or head over to my Etsy shop and see what tools are in stock. Buying the tools from etsy is just slightly more expensive than purchasing them from here but gives you minimum preparation time and thus much faster dispatchment.Note – Etsy tool listings show tools that are “ready or almost ready” for dispachment, not availability. If the tool you’re interested in isn’t currently listed on Etsy you can still order it here!

Band nippers are used to adjust the leather tightly around the spine bands when covering the binding in leather. An essential tool for every binder.

Every aspect of the nippers you see here has been carefully designed after research and consulting seasoned binders. Key features;

-Made from solid cast brass.Steel nippers have been noted to often leave stain marks on leather, which happens due to a chemical reaction between the iron and the leather’s tannic acid. Having nippers made from brass solves that issue.

-Spring back action.The specific spring, placed at the top of the tool, greatly facilitates its use.

-Smoothly finished by hand.Many nippers have rough or sharp edges that may mark or tear leather when used. A great deal of attention is given during the making of the tool you see here to ensure you will have fine but not sharp edges, suitable for quality work.

Price is at 100 euroand payment can be received through Paypal.

How do I order?α) Just sent me a mail in the address at the top of the right column of my blog or leave a comment here letting me know which tools you are interested in. Payment can be received through Paypal.b) Or head over to myEtsy shopand see what tools are in stock. Buying the tools from etsy is just slightly more expensive than purchasing them from here but gives you minimum preparation time and thus much faster dispatchment.Note – Etsy tool listings show tools that are “ready or almost ready” for dispachment, not availability. If the tool you’re interested in isn’t currently listed on Etsy you can still order it here!

Stylus tools are a handy utility in the binder’s arsenal. They can be used for finishing, marking, tracing, allocating, making fine details and so much more. Their use is limitless. The two stylus tools in offer, an edged and a pointy one, have been specifically designed for bookbinding. They are short enough to be used as easily as a pen yet long enough to allow heating in fire without harming the handle face. The tool ends have enough volume to allow modification according to each binder’s needs/desire as it is often the case with such tools.

Why choose a stylus tool over a pyrography tool?1) Temperature control.The first and most important reason is that the stylus can be rapidly cooled or heated while a pyrography tool takes time to raise or lower temperature. Being able to adjust tool temperature fast makes a big difference for those who perform tooling on a regular basis and facilitates the whole task.2) Decoration depth.A pyrography tool usually “burns” the upper layer of a leather surface or -in the case of gold tooling- simply adheres the foil on the leather. The stylus however embosses it, leaving a mark that has depth and volume. This ensures that your decoration will be long-lasting since it can’t be easily removed or altered by the hardships of use such as scratches, friction and climate variations.3) OverheatingWhile not always a case, many of the pyrography tools will overheat with use even if they are set at a specific temperature. This can be a nuisance since the tool has to be left to cool-down gradually and then heated again, which of course is not a problem with the stylus.

A great deal of thought has been given on the handle design which allows for a most comfortable “writing” grip when tooling. As you can see it is made from high quality turned wood finished with wax by an exceptional woodworker- Antonis. The coloring has been achieved with a special technique instead of using varnishes or color in order to be heat enduring.
The pair’s price is 70 euros

The set is also available in pen grip handles.

How do I order?
α) Just sent me a mail in the address at the top of the right column of my blog or leave a comment here letting me know which tools you are interested in. Payment can be received through Paypal.
b) Or head over to my Etsy shop and see what tools are in stock. Buying the tools from etsy is just slightly more expensive than purchasing them from here but gives you minimum preparation time and thus much faster dispatchment.Note – Etsy tool listings show tools that are “ready or almost ready” for dispachment, not availability. If the tool you’re interested in isn’t currently listed on Etsy you can still order it here!Check out more tools at my page-> Tools for bookbinding

The BFM, which is an innovation by Dimitri’s Bookbinding Corner, will be redesigned from scratch, always based however on the aspect that made it popular; the ability to have many decorative designs in one tool that is affordable and easy to use.

Introducing the Bookbinding Finishing Multitool or simply BFM.The BFM is a new kind of bookbinding tool designed to provide a multitude of decorating options, 35 in 1 to be precise. The base tool of the BFM is combined with interchangeable heads that fit in a socket. Once a tip is placed in the socket it is held firm by a twist of the wing-nut. The BFM is then heated like any brass hand-tool. When the binder is done using the specific tip he can switch to another one just as fast and easily.

The BFM is divided into sets which altogether comprise a full finishing kit. That way it greatly reduces the cost needed by a starting binder or binding enthusiast who would otherwise have to pay a lot more to acquire the designs as single tools. Furthermore the BFM is easy to use and is highly portable due to its small size, which is ideal when traveling, attending seminars etc. It also comes in a luxurious handturned wooden handle that is a pleasure to work with.

How do I order a tool?α) Just sent me a mail in the address at the top of the right column of my blog or leave a comment here letting me know which tools you are interested in. Payment can be received through Paypal.b) Or head over to myEtsy shopand see what tools are in stock. Buying the tools from etsy is just slightly more expensive than purchasing them from here but gives you minimum preparation time and thus much faster dispatchment.Note – Etsy tool listings show tools that are “ready or almost ready” for dispachment, not availability. If the tool you’re interested in isn’t currently listed on Etsy you can still order it here!